JACKSON, MS – A Mississippi county school board made a decision that has stirred up some serious debate. Ellen Degeneres is being reached to help!

JACKSON, MS – A Mississippi county school board made a decision that has stirred up some serious debate. Ellen Degeneres is being reached to help!

The Itawamba School District announced Wednesday that it would cancel its upcoming prom after a gay student petitioned to bring a same-sex date to the event. Constance McMillen, 18, is a senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School is the individual that sparked the school’s decision.

“Due to the distraction to the educational process caused by recent events, the Itawamba County School District has decided to not hots a prom at Itawamba Agricultural High School this year,” school board members said in a statement.

McMillen has challenged the school’s policy that prohibits her from bringing her girlfriend as her date to the April 2 prom and has enlisted the help of the American Civil Liberties Union. The union has strongly urged that school officials reverse the policy both on McMillen’s choice of date and attire. She also requested to wear a tuxedo to the event.

The school responded to these requests by suggesting that the community organize a private prom. “It is our hope that private citizens will organize an event for the juniors and seniors. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this causes anyone,” school officials said in a statement.

“Oh my God. That’s really messed up because the message they are sending is that if they have to let gay people go to prom that they are not going to have one,” McMillen responded to the announcement. “A bunch of kids at school are really going to hate me for this.”

According to Christine Sun, ACLU’s senior attorney on gay rights, the ban on same-sex dates is a violation of McMillen’s constitutional rights. “We believe the law is pretty clear,” she added. “The school just can’t arbitrarily say you have to bring an opposite date to the prom.”

Supporter for McMillen and the case at hand have shown their support. They have started to reach out to Ellen Degeneres for help on the matter. Degeneres is an out and proud lesbian who has managed to bring awareness to gay rights. Fans are calling for Degeneres to organize a prom in this Mississippi area. The Ellen Degeneres Show is being inundated with emails regarding this matter and it would truly be a great story if Ellen Degeneres follow through with this.